Confusion

[Guest guest]

My husband is having confusion more frequently and more trips to the hospital.

He takes lactulose 2-3 tbsp 4 times a day. Sometimes I will increase it to 4

depending on how he is acting at the time. I am wondering when he gets confused

is it possible he ends up staying that way with out going into a coma? I noticed

since he started dialysis they give him a protein drink and the more protein he

has is when this confusion starts and I have told them this but Dr at the

dialysis insists he drink it.(the drink is 40 grams) Another Dr says no more

than 40 gr of protien a day. He hates dialysis and almost quit but after 1

xanax,2 benedryl and 1 oxicodone he settled down and was able to continue his

dialysis. Dr.s said to have him take this each time he has dialysis.

[Guest guest]

sounds like ammonia build up. i had the same problem, took the same dose of

Lactulose everyday your husband takes. i started taking Xifaxin, which is no

longer experimental and covered by all insurance companies and Medicare. if its

NOT covered by your insurance, tell your doctor to find out about it and then to

insist the imsurance company pay for it. if that doesnt work, try Neomycin.

thats not as highly recommended due to its severe side effects (it will cause

BAD tinnitus and damage your kidneys quickly). i used to be in the hospital

every 2 or 3 weeks with ammonia buildup (caused by too much protein not clearing

the system) and now have not had a recurrence in over a year. thats correct, im

focused, clear, and aware.

i went into hyper ammonia coma while on the road, on a tour bus (im a musician)

several states away. when i awoke in a hospital, i couldt remember my name, nor

could i remember where i lived or where i was.

scary stuff, ammonia. Xifaxin 550, 2x daily saved my butt. im OK again.

kip

[Guest guest]

 Thank you so much for the info on xifaxin 550. I will contact his provider on

this for sure. Yesterday he had high ammonia levels again it seems like its

happening once a week and of course I take him to the hospital and they look at

me like how did this happen? DA you tell me! Yesterday it was 12:30 am when I

was woken up and this time he was angry which never happened before. He wandered

around aimlessly and then went to clean the water just really off the wall stuff

he thought he was doing and then said he was going to destroy everything then

last night he didn't remember a thing and he feels so bad. He is on dialysis as

well. We were suppose to be in Vegas for his st scan needed for the transplant 

and this is the 3rd time we missed due to ammonia levels. Pray we make it next

week.

Thanks again

Bonnie 

[Guest guest]

yes, i also sing. remembering lyrics and complex harmony parts was difficult. i

was fired from my last two bands because i just couldnt keep up. im well now,

and ready to play more music, but if your off the grid here in Nashville for

more than a year, you pretty much have to start all over, and im at an age where

im running out of that desperate need for fame. i met all my goals, and i no

longer obsess about being the Big Dog anymore, so, hungrier players have moved

in to take my place. thats fine. at least im alive!

kip

[Guest guest]

 

The VA schedules all of his appts so this week we are having him take full doses

of lactulose every 5-6 hrs so we can make it to Vegas. At least I pray this

works. Dr wouldn't give him. I am getting upset with these Dr's always asking

how he got cirrhosis, what difference does it make now? he has it. I mean do

they ask how did you get cancer or other illnesses? I understand the primary and

transplant team and they said it was undefined so why er Drs have say he must

have drank to much. You know what he's sick and most Dr's don't have a clue on

liver disease and nurses , aids etc none of their business!  Just venting today.